Farmer accused of family slavery: court
Written by admin on October 28, 2024
A Victorian dad has been accused of using threats, violence and intimidation to force his family into servitude on their regional farm.
The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared in the Victorian Supreme Court on Monday for the first day of his estimated six week trial.
He has pleaded not guilty to all charges, including seven counts of causing another person to enter into and remain in servitude.
In his opening address to the 14-person jury, Patrick Doyle SC said the prosecution’s case was about a family “living under tyranny”.
“The accused dominated their lives through physical violence, threats and intimidation,” he said.
“He not only abused his physical power over them but he was psychologically and emotionally abusive as well … for years he succeeded.
“They were living under tyranny in every sense of the word.”
Mr Doyle told the court the family relocated from interstate to a property in Victoria.
Over a six-year period before police became involved in 2021, the man allegedly forced his wife and six children to work, controlling other aspects of their lives including when they could eat, drink and shower, Mr Doyle said.
“They did so in fear of being beaten by him if they didn’t comply with his instruction,” he told the jury.
“Any reasonable person wouldn’t have regarded them as free to refuse when he demanded they work on the farm.”
Mr Doyle told the jury prosecutors alleged he exercised control over all aspects of their lives, preventing the children from having school friends and his wife from having contact with her family.
He said the court will hear from each of the alleged victims about the accused man’s behaviour, which allegedly included threats with firearms and farm equipment.
“The prosecution case is that by the time they moved to (the farm) they were conditioned to be subordinate to the will of the accused,” Mr Doyle said.
“Conditioned to obey him; conditioned to fear him.”
The court was told the couple first married several decades ago, with the man allegedly immediately demanding subservience.
While he is not charged with offending in NSW, Mr Doyle said the jury would hear evidence from the time to prove the “dominance” exercised over the family was established long before they moved to Victoria.
Mr Doyle will continue to deliver his opening remarks on Tuesday before the man’s barrister, Alexander Patton, delivers the defence response.
The trial continues.
